SBMCH unprepared to tackle dengue as mosquitoes buzz aloud in Barishal

After a short-lived respite from mosquitoes and dengue, residents of different parts of Barishal are now again enduring the menace as the number of mosquitoes has been on the rise.

However, Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), the major state-run healthcare facility in the division, is not yet prepared to treat dengue patients.

No facilities to provide such treatment has been introduced to the hospital. Moreover, its lone dengue detection machine has been out of order for a long time.

Besides, most doctors and nurses are now busy serving patients with coronavirus symptoms.

Last year, 14 patients died from dengue at the hospital and at least 3,500 received treatment, said SBMCH sources.

Hospital Director Dr Bakir Hossain said, "We have appealed to the health ministry for a new machine a year ago, but to no avail. Besides, we need more technicians."

"At present, there are only five technicians at the pathology department, which is enough for a 500-bed hospital. But the hospital had been upgraded to a 1,000-bed one year ago. So, we need to double our manpower to tackle regular health service," he added.

Dr Sudip Halder, president of Inpatient Department Doctors Association, said if dengue patients start arriving, they will face severe crises as they are not ready yet.

Seeking anonymity, several intern doctors alleged that around 88 doctors out of 100 are skipping duties in fear of coronavirus, leaving them to tackle the situation during this crisis.

The hospital authorities admitted the allegation. During a recent visit to the hospital, this correspondent also saw only a handful of senior doctors on duty.

SBMCH Deputy Director Dr Abdur Razzak said the situation was not supposed to be like this. The doctors were provided with personal protective equipment, he added.

A 125-bed isolation ward was set up at a separate building for Covid-19 patients, he said, adding that eight doctors, eight nurses and four assistants were assigned to discharge duties by rotation.

But other doctors have to serve patients too, said an administrative official of the hospital. "We are trying to resolve the matter," the official added.

Director Bakir Hossain added, "There is no pressure of patients at this moment. Normally, around 1,800 to 2,000 patients remain admitted, but the number has come down to 400."

Meanwhile, many areas of the city have been riddled with severe mosquito problems, said locals. In the absence of clean-up initiative, waterbodies have become mosquito breeding grounds, they added.

Sources at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said 42 healthcare institutions -- including the Sher-e-Bangla hospital -- treated around 7,000 dengue patients in Barishal division last year.

Dengue fever turned into an epidemic in the capital and spread to other districts last year, killing numerous people.

During the time, several expert teams from the health ministry collected mosquito larva from government office premises in Barishal -- including Circuit House, SBMC, Sadar Hospital, Nathullabad and Rupatali bus terminals, said Basu Deb Kumar Das, director of DGHS in Barishal.

He said dengue treatment will be hampered if coronavirus pandemic continues for a long time.

'BCC DRIVES INADEQUATE'

Barishal City Corporation (BCC) authorities said they are continuing cleaning and anti-mosquito drives regularly.

"Our 34 workers spray 10 litres of larvicide to kill mosquitoes daily. Sometimes we use fogger machines," said BCC Conservancy Officer Dr Rabiul Islam.

With that inadequate manpower, it is almost impossible to conduct drives in the entire city of 58sqkm, which also has 23 canals, said many conservancy workers.

"We are working to curb the mosquito menace," assured  Rabiul Islam. "Due to the ongoing situation [shutdown], it's hard to conduct drives regularly, but we're trying our best."

"Residents will have to step up too... they need to keep their surroundings clean and destroy mosquito breeding grounds," he added.

Dengue outbreak is generally noticed from June to October while August-October is the peak season, said Asit Bhushan Das, principal of SBMC.

Dr Mizanur Rahman, member secretary to Barishal Nagorik Parishad, said, "Dengue situation may become much worse than last year's if we don't take prompt steps."